The ALCS: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Yanks could also call up Colter Bean(2.29 ERA in 53 appearances with 109/23 in 82.2 IP) and Juan Padilla(2.02 ERA in 45 appearances with 52/6 in 58 IP) to help bolster the Bullpen next year too.

[Brett Favre 0]

Whoops. Lieber should be there.

 

And RJ, Mussina, Milton, Wells, and Lieber isn't exactly dead weight. Unless you want Pedro or the Rocket, this is it. You're going to have to live with it.

[Guest Anglesault]

And RJ, Mussina, Milton, Wells, and Lieber isn't exactly dead weight. Unless you want Pedro or the Rocket, this is it. You're going to have to live with it.

No, Milton is.

 

He's simply not a very good regular season pitcher, and I don't want a guy based on three post season games (2 starts)

 

and Juan Padilla

 

I think we released him for no apparent reason.

[Brett Favre 0]

Who would you rather have? Clement, Pavano, Morris, Pedro, Clemens, Kevin Brown!?

[Guest Anglesault]

Who would you rather have? Clement, Pavano, Morris, Pedro, Clemens, Kevin Brown!?

Pedro. If we can get innings out of the other four, Pedro's seven inning games won't be such a tax on the bullpen.

[Brett Favre 0]

Well, Pedro going home to Daddy? Do you think it's going to happen?

[Guest Anglesault]

Well, Pedro going home to Daddy? Do you think it's going to happen?

Very much so. There's alot of thing's Pedro is. One of them is not second fiddle. If we sign him (obviously, before we would trade for RJ) with him under the impression that he is top gun, we could be ready.

[Brett Favre 0]

Would Randy Johnson be cool with that? Eh, he probably will. Anything to get the fuck out of Arizona.

 

So a Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, David Wells, and Jon Lieber starting rotation with:

 

SS: Derek Jeter

3B: Alex Rodriguez

RF: Gary Sheffield

LF: Hideki Matsui

CF: Carlos Beltran

DH: Bernie Williams

1B: Jason Giambi

C: Jorge Posada

2B: Miguel Cairo

 

I really don't see anyone taking Jason Giambi.

[Guest Anglesault]

Would Randy Johnson be cool with that? Eh, he probably will. Anything to get the fuck out of Arizona.

 

So a Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, David Wells, and Jon Lieber starting rotation with:

 

SS: Derek Jeter

3B: Alex Rodriguez

RF: Gary Sheffield

LF: Hideki Matsui

CF: Carlos Beltran

DH: Bernie Williams

1B: Jason Giambi

C: Jorge Posada

2B: Miguel Cairo

 

I really don't see anyone taking Jason Giambi.

Good team.

[mike546 0]

Posada doesn't belong back on this team after the post season he had.

[Guest Anglesault]

Posada doesn't belong back on this team after the post season he had.

Posada is almost done. He's approaching *that age* that catchers don't like to mention.

[Brett Favre 0]

Well, his defense hasn't been that bad. He threw nearly everyone out in the postseason. He's almost done, but he'll do.

[mike546 0]

Well, his defense hasn't been that bad. He threw nearly everyone out in the postseason. He's almost done, but he'll do.

Yep, his defense sure was awesome when he couldn't throw out Roberts in the 8th and 9th innings of games we should have won.

 

I say we should put Cano on the roster next year, put him in the role Posada usewd to have under Girardi.

[Guest Anglesault]

Well, his defense hasn't been that bad. He threw nearly everyone out in the postseason. He's almost done, but he'll do.

Yep, his defense sure was awesome when he couldn't throw out Roberts in the 8th and 9th innings of games we should have won.

 

The second Roberts play was a hit and run. Very little a catcher can do there to throw the guy out.

 

I say we should put Cano on the roster next year, put him in the role Posada usewd to have under Girardi.

 

Would be quite the shock to both Cano and Dioner Navarro.

 

Being that Cano is a second basemen and all.

Edited October 22, 2004 by Anglesault

[Guest Brian]

The NY Papers are coming down really hard, here's from the Times:

 

Too many Yankees clamored for center stage

 

By SELENA ROBERTS

THE NEW YORK TIMES

 

NEW YORK -- They were the hallowed host body of Boston's demons, and yet the Yankees were vanquished in a colossal collapse to a Red Sox crew that takes the field as a cross between Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" and the goofs of "Gilligan's Island."

 

As flush with disbelief as Yankees fans were while their team lost Game 7 10-3 on Wednesday, as much as the pain-faced players in pinstripes believed the American League Championship Series was their rite of passage through the broken hearts of the Red Sox, the end was not all that unfathomable.

 

Consider the first image of the night -- and the embodiment of the Yankees' fatal flaw -- as with all the import Yankees, Kevin Brown was a former somebody.

 

With Yankees pride on the line, with George Steinbrenner's wrath in the wings, Brown was the man of the moment by attrition, the only pitcher able because of his dubious cameo start in Game 3.

 

As with too many Yankees on Wednesday, Brown was still searching for his meaning to the team after a career of never having to prove himself to anyone. He left with head down, boos in the air and clenched fist to his side after giving up five runs in 1 1/3 innings.

 

How does such ignobility happen to a $100 million Yankee?

 

This is what converting to the Yankee faith does to superstar transplants: Their frailties and insecurities, all the individual quirks that were indulged in other markets, expand to become team defects when grouped en masse.

 

The way Boston charged back from the abyss to gain a berth to the World Series -- leaning on camaraderie as a strategy after falling into a 3-0 ravine -- has exposed the stage-hungry nature of the Yankees.

 

It may be innocent, but there has been an instinct for one box-office Yankee to upstage the other during the postseason. On the surface, the incoming batch all buy into the Yankees way -- shaving their beards, snipping their sideburns and purging their personae -- but many feel the pressure to distinguish themselves in pinstripe history.

 

 

 

From Game 3 through Game 7 against Boston, Yankees players tried to eliminate the Red Sox with solo acts.

 

"I think everybody is trying to do the job themselves," manager Joe Torre explained before his team's defeat was complete. "I think you get away from the way you've been a little successful. You get a little anxious."

 

You get a little scared of inconsequence. And this is why Alex Rodriguez looked so desperate to be significant in Game 6 on Tuesday. With Derek Jeter on first, and an opportunity to deliver an incandescent hit for a team fading into the night, Rodriguez dribbled a weak grounder to pitcher Bronson Arroyo.

 

Out of frustration or star petulance, Rodriguez all but cat-scratched Arroyo as the pitcher in cornrows tried to tag him down the first base line, a calculated slap by A-Rod that dislodged the ball and sent a shot of euphoria through Yankee Stadium as Jeter scored.

 

For a moment, while he stood on second base after the play, A-Rod must have felt a prankster's high. He had gotten away with one, hadn't he? He had gotten a whiff of attention in a pivotal moment on the sly?

 

But once the umpires convened, they correctly called interference on A-Rod, sending Jeter back to first, adding to Rodriguez's collection of big-moment disappointments.

 

If Rodriguez had taken the tag legally, Jeter would have, at the least, been in scoring position on second base.

 

But this is how Jeter differs from the team's vagabond superstars. Born into the league as a Yankee, with a certain DNA from his New York experience, Jeter makes nuance plays that count for the team -- not against it.

 

Jeter Envy has probably driven more players than A-Rod to try too hard. Expectations have probably driven more players loopy in their desire to be adored.

 

The Red Sox are not a pauper's lot, loaded with high-priced oddballs, but their one-for-all push to put together four victories in a row has done a job on the Yankees' invincibility.

 

In revealing the downside of the Yankees' excess, the Red Sox have stripped some of the reverence off their storied rivals. Besides, what's to respect about cheats and whiners?

 

To restore some sheen, the Yankees should stop the practice of assembling teams of aging icons and insecure superstars, many of whom are too old or too wealthy to alter their instincts.

 

For four years, the purchase-power strategy has failed for the Yankees.

 

What would happen if the Boss let his baseball people become baseball people again? What if the farm system was put to good use? How good could GM Brian Cashman be if he was allowed to apply his ideas?

 

The Boss might be surprised to find a cheaper, sleeker team that could grow great together without a bunch of surly, insecure superstars in the way of progress.

 

So, should the Yanks build for the future or should they just reload with more egos?

[Brett Favre 0]

They were a win away from the World Series against a very good team. The New York Papers, like everyother day, are exaggerating.

[mike546 0]

Well, his defense hasn't been that bad. He threw nearly everyone out in the postseason. He's almost done, but he'll do.

Yep, his defense sure was awesome when he couldn't throw out Roberts in the 8th and 9th innings of games we should have won.

 

The second Roberts play was a hit and run. Very little a catcher can do there to throw the guy out.

 

I say we should put Cano on the roster next year, put him in the role Posada usewd to have under Girardi.

 

Would be quite the shock to both Cano and Dioner Navarro.

 

Being that Cano is a second basemen and all.

I meant Navarro.

[Guest Brian]

Well, the question is should the Yankees be building for another run or should they be restocking and building for the future? Are the last four years persuasive enough to start investing?

[Brett Favre 0]

They should still build for another run. It's not like they didn't make the playoffs.

[Guest GreatOne]

They were a win away from the World Series against a very good team.

Yeah for four straight games.

[Guest Anglesault]

Well, the question is should the Yankees be building for another run or should they be restocking and building for the future? Are the last four years persuasive enough to start investing?

Rebuilding is a ridiculous process. Voluntarily trashing the next five years so that, hopefully, maybe, if the stars align just right, you can win in ten years.

 

And if it doesn't, well you just threw 10 years down the shitter.

Edited October 23, 2004 by Anglesault

[Guest Brian]

Four years down. Six to go. I mean, isn't throwing money at the wall and hoping it sticks the same process except more expensive? Is gutting the farms system worth it, especially when you can't make trades down the stretch?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As far as pitchers go, one possible name is Odalis Perez. His W/L record is weak due to abysmal run support, but he has terrific control. He's a lefty, fly-ball pitcher, which tends to work well in Yankee Stadium.

 

As far as the Yankees go, this is not a team which needs to be blown up. What would the reaction have been if we shuffled the games, and the Series ended with game 4? It would just be a close series that the Sox won. Making mass changes based on four games is extremely dangerous. Besides, like I stated before, I believe the problem is that they had a weak bench and bullpen. Tony Clark, Ruben Sierra, and Enrique Wilson all collected 200+ at bats for this team, and posted OBPs under .300. You can do better than that, and for very little money.

 

Ditto the bullpen. Flash Gordon and Mariano Rivera are the only bullpen arms to post ERAs under 4.50. This is another area that needs to be addressed, and can be done so fairly efficiently. Chris Hammond, Rheal Cormier, and even Troy Percival could help here.

 

The media loves to blame the stars, but that's not the problem. Not every player hits 3 for 4 every day. You need guys to fill the void, and the Yankees didn't have that. There's a huge dropoff in quality once you get past the starters on this squad.

[Guest Anglesault]

Four years down. Six to go. I mean, isn't throwing money at the wall and hoping it sticks the same process except more expensive? Is gutting the farms system worth it, especially when you can't make trades down the stretch?

It gives hope. I'd rather think that we have a shot to win every year than know we haven't a chance in hell.

[mike546 0]

As far as pitchers go, one possible name is Odalis Perez.  His W/L record is weak due to abysmal run support, but he has terrific control.  He's a lefty, fly-ball pitcher, which tends to work well in Yankee Stadium.

 

As far as the Yankees go, this is not a team which needs to be blown up.  What would the reaction have been if we shuffled the games, and the Series ended with game 4?  It would just be a close series that the Sox won.  Making mass changes based on four games is extremely dangerous.  Besides, like I stated before, I believe the problem is that they had a weak bench and bullpen.  Tony Clark, Ruben Sierra, and Enrique Wilson all collected 200+ at bats for this team, and posted OBPs under .300.  You can do better than that, and for very little money.

 

Ditto the bullpen.  Flash Gordon and Mariano Rivera are the only bullpen arms to post ERAs under 4.50.  This is another area that needs to be addressed, and can be done so fairly efficiently.  Chris Hammond, Rheal Cormier, and even Troy Percival could help here.

 

The media loves to blame the stars, but that's not the problem.  Not every player hits 3 for 4 every day.  You need guys to fill the void, and the Yankees didn't have that.  There's a huge dropoff in quality once you get past the starters on this squad.

Hammond?

 

Good god no.

 

We had him in 03, and he did shit.

 

And Ruben might have not have had a good OBP, but he had 17 HRS and 65 RBIS in a part time role.

 

And Sturtzes ERA is an exaggaration, because he was a savior the second half of the season.

[the pinjockey 0]

Hammond?

 

Good god no.

 

We had him in 03, and he did shit.

2003: 3-2 2.86 ERA 45K/11BB

 

Yeah, that looks like shit to me.

[mike546 0]

Hammond?

 

Good god no.

 

We had him in 03, and he did shit.

2003: 3-2 2.86 ERA 45K/11BB

 

Yeah, that looks like shit to me.

Somethings wrong with those stats, because theres no way he would have been left off the 03 ALCS roster with those stats.

 

And theres no way they would have let him go.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hammond was criticized because he couldn't live up to his amazing 2002 campaign with the Braves. He still posted a 2.86 ERA with the Yankees, alongside a 45/11 K:BB ratio. He pitched well in Oakland this year. You can't tell me he wouldn't look better in a Yankees uniform than Felix Heredia.

 

Hitting 17 home runs isn't much of a help when that's all you are doing, besides collecting outs.

 

As far as Tanyon Sturtze goes, his ERAs for the last three seasons are 5.18, 5.94, and 5.47. His positive traits consist solely of collecting a 3.86 ERA in 16 1/3 IP in September. The month before, he collected a 7.25 ERA in 22 1/3 IP. Forgive me if his recent performance doesn't fill me with overwhelming confidence.

[mike546 0]

Well, that ERA in September turned into good stuff in the playoffs aswell. Honestly though, I don't remember Hammond having that kind of year. And I just couldn't see him with that ERA being left off the post season roster.

 

And his ERA would have been a LOT lower in September had Sturtze not had one HORRIBLE outting against KC in early September.

 

Stats can be misleading sometimes. Ask any Yankee fan, without Sturtze, we were screwed in the playoffs.

 

EDIT: Looging at game logs, Hammond got better down the stretch in 03.

 

odd.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Stats can be misleading sometimes. Ask any Yankee fan, without Sturtze, we were screwed in the playoffs.

 

By the same token, a player's most recent performances can be misleading. You have to ask yourself, are we sure this pitcher will keep this up, given the salary we plan to pay him? I'm not so sure.